Romero agrees with wage hike proposals: It will increase productivity
MANILA, Philippines — 1-Pacman party-list Rep. Mikee Romero believes that proposals to increase minimum wage of private sector workers would benefit different industries, as it will boost productivity in workplaces across the country.
Romero explained in an exclusive interview that as a businessman who used to be with the port industry, he understands the grievances of workers — and he knows that any way to boost their morale would bode well for both laborers and the company.
“Ako naman, all the benefits that I can give or a corporation can give, kailangan. Because I came from the port industry, I know the qualms ng labor. So, I’m really pro-labor. Whatever can help them because they help you also eh. ‘Pagka-motivated sila mag-trabaho, ang laborers, they are very productive,” Romero said.
“Talagang nandyan ng lahat ng stevedore, arrastre, cargo handlers, nandyan lahat, no? So, katulong ko sila, eh, hindi mo sila pwedeng i-isolate or hindi i-boost ‘yong moral, eh. So, the more I boost their moral using productivity or using incentives as a way of increasing productivity, the more nakakatulong sila sa akin,” he added.
According to Romero, the Philippines as a whole has to increase productivity to attract investments, and one way of doing that is by incentivizing workers and boosting their morale.
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“And we have to make the country or our labor force very productive. Why? It’s because many of foreign investors, they don’t go to the Philippines because ang productivity level ng Filipino is not very high comparable to the Southeast Asian. Bakit? Kasi marami tayong cigarette break, marami tayong siesta. So, anything that will keep the morale of our laborers high by giving them extra based on productivity,” he added.
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“So, ‘yong labor is a partner for me. Unlike others, siguro, they look at labor as kalaban. Ako, I look at them as my partners, no? Kasi, in my business, talagang we need each other to hold hands para dumami yung volume,” he added.
On Monday, the House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill (HB) No. 11376, which proposes a P200 increase for minimum wages.
READ: House OKs P200 minimum wage hike bill on 2nd reading
No committee or individual amendments were made but before the bill was approved, but the House decided to present a substitute bill to HB No. 11376, under Committee Report No. 1384. The key difference was that the new bill seeks to apply the wage hikes to minimum wage earners only, instead of the previous version where salary increases were across-the-board.
READ: House panel OKs substitute bill seeking P200 minimum wage hike
Even so, the House-approved minimum wage hike is higher than what the Senate has approved last February 2024, which was a P100 hike to the daily minimum wages of private sector workers.
Romero meanwhile assured the labor sector that his support for wage hikes is not mere lip service, as even though he has divested his shares in several companies, his family still runs several businesses.
“Now, I divested in everything. Pero, I was in ports, Global Port, North Port, and, Harbor Center, North Harbor. And then, airline, AirAsia and the power business,” he said. “Oo, for sure (we need wage hike) kasi, ang inflation natin nag-6 percent eh, so hindi kakayanin ‘yon.
“My family is still there, Ako divested as a person, pero my kids, my wife is still part of those industries,” he added.